Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

Published on by Amy3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to another contribution to the wildly popular Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week she asks us to share lists on the following:

December 11: Freebie

I wanted to do something different this week.  So after studying my Goodreads account for about 20 minutes from different angles and came up with this.  I’m going to go to Goodreads recommendations based upon my read shelf and find the ten weirdest recommendations they came up with based upon books I’ve read.

Ten Weird Goodreads Recommendations.

  1. Off to Be the Wizard This title was suggested to me because I read Ready Player One.  The cover is, to be honest awful, but it actually has some great reviews by a few people I follow.  Not sure I’m going to read it as it seems to be about time travel (historical) and computer programming.  They get bonus points for a clever title though.
  2. The Windup Girl This was suggested to me because I read Old Man’s War and The Long Earth.  It is classified as steampunk science fiction dystopian… The synopsis sounds a little heavy but a lot of people I follow have added it to their to-read shelf, of course not many of them have actually read it yet.  I’m not sure this one is my style, I think I’ll pass.
  3. The Red Notebook This was recommended to me because I read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend.  This is what happens when you read something out of your normal repertoire and add it to your Goodreads account.  I’m not usually a fan of contemporary romance but books about books might be a good fit. I do like that it was written by a man (not enough romance is) and the synopsis sounds like it would make a cute movie.  I don’t know maybe I’ll give this one a try or recommend it to the library.
  4. Halfway Human This was recommended to me because I read The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, Saturn Run, and Sleeping Giants.  Another case of awful cover but an interesting synopsis.  I do like that it is billed as LGBT which I don’t read nearly enough diversity in my books.  No one I follow has read it but I might give it a try sometime.  It is an older book which might be the reason for its cover but if it does tackle LGBT topics then bonus points for it since it was written in 1998.
  5. Just Desserts (Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries, #1) This book was recommended to me because I read a ton of Kerrelyn Sparks books.  This tells me it is probably fun and chick lit.  It is billed as a cozy mystery which I’m not usually a reader of and if this one had a paranormal element like Ms. Sparks book did then I might have given it a chance.  As it is this was written in 1991 and just too far out from what I typically read.
  6. Night Visions: In the Blood This book was recommended to me because of all the Stephen King I read in my misguided youth…  Just no.  I am not a fan of horror or anthologies.  I’ll pass.  Also, it was written in 1984!  How about some current recommendations Goodreads.
  7. Everfair This was recommended to me because I read A Close and Common Orbit.  This caught my eye because the cover was so interesting.  It is billed as steampunk science fiction, historical/alternate history.  The reviews are kind of meh, and the synopsis goes over my head a bit.  It is set in Africa and looks to be a great choice to read if you are looking to add diversity to your reading rotation.  I did add this to my to-read shelf.  I want to give it a try at least.
  8. Last-Minute Knitted Gifts This was recommended to me because I own Weekend Knitting.  I use Goodreads to keep track of my home library and I add all the books I own because I don’t want to buy them again while I’m out shopping.  I have actually knit several patterns in Weekend Knitting and this looks like it might have some cute projects in it too.  It is always nice to have some ideas of items you can knit up quickly to give as a gift.  Good call Goodreads.
  9. Put 'em Up!: A Comprehensive Home Preserving Guide for the Creative Cook, from Drying and Freezing to Canning and Pickling I’m sure this was recommended to me because I have a couple of canning books on my read shelf, see explanation above.  It looks cute but I’m not into canning much anymore I tend to freeze more.  Still, the cover looks cute, but I don’t think I’ll read it.
  10. Tempting Danger (World of the Lupi, #1) This was recommended to me because I read a lot of paranormal romance (too many books to list).  Again a case of the cover just doesn’t catch my eye and is not at all similar to the books linked to the recommendation.  Lots of people I follow give it high marks and the reviews and synopsis sound promising.  I might have to give this one a chance.

Well, there you have my list for this week.  What are some of the stranger recommendations you have received from Goodreads?  Also, feel free to leave a link to your freebie list in the comments!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Winter Reads

Published on by Amy4 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to another contribution to the wildly popular Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week she asks us to share lists on the following:

December 4: Cozy/Wintry Reads

This week I’m going to select books I’ve not read but have been holding off for a cold winter night.

Ten books that I held for winter.

  1. The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) Often I will hold a really long book for the dead of winter.  I did so with the Game of Thrones series and it seemed to work out.  I have been meaning to try this one and it is a brick so maybe it would be good winter read.
  2. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time, #1) Another brick that also happens to be high fantasy.  Hmmm, maybe it is less about long stories but I get in the mood for fantasy adventures when the temps drop.
  3. Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) Starting a new series is another thing I will do in the middle of winter.  I recently brought home almost this entire series maybe I will make this my January read.
  4. The Human Division (Old Man's War, #5) Or finishing a series that I already started.  I read the first books in the Old Man’s War series a couple of winters ago before I burnt out on it a bit.  I could pick this back up and finish it this winter, or maybe not.
  5. A Quick Bite (Argeneau #1) Last winter I started reread a couple of series that I love and if I wanted to go that route then I have been meaning to reread this one for a while now.
  6. Imzadi (Star Trek the Next Generation) I keep meaning to set aside a month and read nothing but Star Trek books.  Maybe midwinter would be a great time to get my Trek on.
  7. Hidden Universe Travel Guides: Star Trek: Vulcan Then again a nice travel book that shows me of places I’d rather be than hip deep in snow.  Like Vulcan ;).
  8. Bloodsucking Fiends (A Love Story, #1) A funny trilogy also might be fun!
  9. Stygian (Dark-Hunter, #27) I’ve also been to catch up on some of my favorite series by my favorite authors.  I keep falling behind in Kenyon’s series maybe winter would be a great time to catch up.
  10. Eve of Darkness (Marked, #1) Wasn’t sure what else to select for the list so I thought it might be fun to add another trilogy to the list.  I have all of these books sitting on my shelf waiting for their turn.

What types of books do you like to read in the dead of winter?

Monday Check-In: I’ve given up…

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Hello everyone.  I feel like I’ve given up on reading.  I simply don’t find myself in the mood for it anymore.  I don’t think I’m going to finish my current Net Galley books.  I just can’t find the motivation.  Reading used to be like breathing for me and I just don’t find myself interested anymore.  Posts on the blog might slow down too.  I might take a break for the rest of the month and see how I feel in the new year.  I hope you all have a great rest of the year.  See you in 2019.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Friends!

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to another contribution to the wildly popular Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week she asks us to share lists on the following:

November 27: Platonic Relationships In Books

So often we focus on romantic interests in books but sometimes it is fun to read about great friendships. Especially when you struggle to make friendships in real life.  I often end up a tad jealous but need to keep in mind often like book romances, book friendships are better than reality.   Here are some of my favorites over the years.

Ten Friendships that I Envied.

  1. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, #1) Jane and her gang: One of the things I love most about Molly Harper’s books is that she writes great friendships.  Out of all the friendships on this list, this is the one I’m most envious over.  I so wanted to have a group of girlfriends like Jane did in this series.
  2. Lock In (Lock In, #1) Chris Shane and Agent Vann: Chris and Vann have such great chemistry that their friendship is what saved book two for me.  Hope there is a book three!
  3. Star Trek: Boldly Go #1 Kirk and Spock: “I have been, and always shall be your friend” is the iconic quote of Spock that even non-Trekkies have heard before.  The friendship between these two characters was so great that it even manifested in the actors who played the roles.  Spock and Kirk have a friendship that anyone would envy.
  4. Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, #1) Mercy and Zee/Mercy and Stefan: It was a toss-up between Mercy and Zee or Mercy and Stefan’s friendship.  In my opinion, both are equally important in Mercy’s life.  Both almost border on father figures in her life so I almost didn’t include them but regardless both men have Mercy’s back.
  5. First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1) Charley and Cookie: I love Charley and Cookie together so freaken much.  Maybe it is because the series is over (for me) but I feel like I’ve lost my best friend now that the series is finished.
  6. Wild Hunger (Heirs of Chicagoland, #1) Elisa and Lulu: These two have an interesting relationship in this book.  You can see that they used to be really close but time and distance have affected their friendship.  I look forward to seeing these two figure out how to move forward together in book two.
  7. Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, #1) Merit and Mallory: Part of the reason Elisa and Lulu have such a great friendship it might have to do with the fact that their mothers were close friends and they probably spent a lot of time together as children.  Of course, Mallory and Merit had some rough patches over the course of the series but managed to reconnect and Mallory is right there fighting alongside Merit in the end.
  8. Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, #1) Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks: This friendship is the heart of the entire series and without it, this would have been a very different story.  These three always had each other’s backs and that is something I have always wanted in my life.
  9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) Harry and Hermione: For much of the story it feels like a trio of friends building a family while at school together but by the last book I thought Harry and Hermione’s friendship really comes out.  It felt that Hermione truly and Harry were truly a team that Ron couldn’t quite live up to.  Perhaps it was because Harry and Hermione both came from Muggle homes and Ron had a longer history in the wizarding world.  Whatever the reason I felt that the bond, the friendship, between Harry and Hermione was strongest in this book.
  10. Acheron (Dark-Hunter #14) Acheron and Simi: I almost didn’t put this friendship on the list but in the end couldn’t find a better one to take its place.  My hesitation came from this feels more like a parent/child relationship than a friendship not that parents can’t be friends with their children but it does give a different feel to the relationship than a platonic non-relative one.  But like I said I couldn’t find one I liked more and decided to include Acheron and Simi.

This week’s list was more challenging than I expected.  Being that I read a lot of romance the friendship bonds tend to have that romantic element that disqualified them from this week’s list.  What great book friendships made it on to your list?  Share in the comments!

Monday Check-in: Making Plans

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Good afternoon everyone.  Sorry for the lack of post last week but hubby was laid off for the week and that tends to screw up my schedule.  I do believe last Monday we were spending the day stacking wood inside the barn in so it isn’t even like I was doing anything exciting.  Sunday and Tuesday, on the other hand, we spent at the movies, seeing Bohemian Rhapsody and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.  Wednesday and Friday I worked, Thursday we had company and Saturday was spent battening down the hatches in preparation for a Blizzard that hit on Sunday.  This morning was clean up and then a few hours of just enjoying the silence of an empty house.

With just over a month left in the year and my ever-waning interest in reading, I have to consider the future of this blog.  I’m not going to close up shop or abandon it but I am going to make changes again.  To start off with no more ARCs.  I’m going to take a year off from requesting books through Net Galley and other sites and focus on reading books I already own.  I feel that too often as a blogger we get too wrapped up in the excitement of reading something before others that it can eventually suck the fun out of reading.  Next year I am also going to go on a book buying ban.  I know I’ve said this before but this time I’m serious. I’m not even going to buy cheap books while thrifting.  I’m also going to avoid borrowing library books.  The exception being book talk titles at work so I can participate.  I will also accept audiobooks which I use while working outside in the summer.

So what will I be reading instead? Books I already own.  I am going to use 2019 as a year to catch up on all the books I have sitting on my two bookcases or on my Nook.  I will make an exception for series that I own more than three books that I’ve not read as long as I don’t read past the last book I own. For example, I own books 2, 3, 6, 7, & 8 in a series.  I can borrow through the library book 1 and 4 but not book 9 that will have to wait until 2020.  I am also going to try to avoid rereading book next year.  Sure it is great when you don’t know what you are in the mood for but I really need to tackle those TBR shelves.  I’m also going to allow DNFing.  I have picked up a ton of cheap books over the years and my taste has changed some if I try it and am no longer into it no big deal.  If it is a physical book I will simply find it a new home.

So in 2019 no buying, borrowing (for the most part), and no ARCS.  Read what I own!  Have a great week everyone.

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful.

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to another contribution to the wildly popular Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week she asks us to share lists on the following:

November 20: Thanksgiving/Thankful Freebie

 

This week’s list isn’t going to be book-centric.  I’m going to simply list ten things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Ten things I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving.

  1. My Husband: After 23 years of marriage I continue to be grateful for my husband.  He has expanded my world, supported our family, and loved me at my best and worst.  I am an extremely lucky woman to share my life with him.
  2. My Cats: I spend most of my time with my cats they are my family and friends.  They make me laugh, bring me comfort, and give me unconditional love.
  3. My Birds: Like my cats, my birds bring me such joy.  I love spending time with them and watching their antics.
  4. My Home: Husband and I are very fortunate to own our home and it is something for which I am eternally grateful.  We love the peace and solitude that living in the country brings.  Along with the opportunity to have a big garden and livestock.
  5. My Friends: Thought I wish I had more who I was closer to relationship and distance wise I am extremely grateful for the friends that I do have.  There isn’t anyone that I call a friend that I do not trust or feel comfortable being myself with.
  6. Star Trek: This franchise has brought me much joy over my life and been a way to connect with the memory of my mother.
  7. Surviving Cancer: Like any person diagnosed with cancer I am eternally grateful that I survived cancer.  I am very fortunate that my cancer was found early and was easily cured.
  8. Books: Despite my lack of reading these past few months I continue to be grateful for books.  They are my favorite form of escape.
  9. Libraries: Not only does a library employ me it also provides me free access to technology and books.  Libraries will always be an asset to every community in which they belong.
  10. The Internet: While it can be a huge time suck the internet has become an invaluable asset in my life.  It allows us to remain connected to friends and family, near and far and stay informed.  It also allows us to seek out the truth and learn new things every day.  The internet is a tool for which I am grateful.

What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (reread)

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Book Review


Fair Game (Alpha & Omega, #3)Book Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Book Series: Alpha & Omega #3

Released: 3/6/12 by Orbit

Pages:  308 Price: $26.95 Hardcover

Links:  Goodreads, Author’s Site

Source: I borrowed this audiobook from my library. 

 

 

Book Synopsis:

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can’t afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father’s dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack’s help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer’s sights…

My Review:

Wow.  I had forgotten how powerful the ending of this book was.  I waited a long time for my shot at this book in my reread listen and I had kind of gotten out of the mood for this series.  I managed to make it through the book but felt like I was only half paying attention as I listened.  I hung in for the beginning and the end but parts in the middle are a bit fuzzy.

This book deals heavily with the Fae and the consequences of the wolves going public with their existence.  Charles is feeling the strain of being the enforcer and dealing with quite a bit of guilt over the lives he has taken.  Anna is also struggling to help her mate despite his pushing her away for her own protection.  They get sent on a mission together to help the government deal with some disappearances.  Where I am a bit fuzzy is if they are of the Fae or done by the Fae.  Dammit, I need to pay attention better…

Regardless, eventually, it is Anna who is targeted and taken as all hell breaks loose as an already on edge Charles has to deal with a missing mate.  The last few chapters are where the story regained a hold on my attention and I became enthralled with what was going on.  I even ended up with goosebumps on my arms as the action picked up.  The ending of this book though is the best of all the books set in this world.  It also happens to be pretty fitting for the time in which we live as our society struggles with equality, hate, discrimination, and bigotry.

Despite my struggle to focus on the story I still loved the book and it continues to be my favorite.  I think I will end my reread of this series here.  Not just because the next book is not available in audio format from my library but the next book is not one I particularly cared for.  So I might as well jump to the latest release.

My Rating: 5 Stars

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Stuff

Published on by Amy5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to another contribution to the wildly popular Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week she asks us to share lists on the following:

November 13: Bookish Items/Merchandise I’d Like to Own

Now I haven’t thought about bookish items I want/wanted beyond my new reading glasses, that I love.  This might be a great time to go check out Pinterest to see what catches my eye.  I’m not going to provide links to any of these items because I’m just going to take the pictures off Pintrest.

Ten bookish items I covet.

  1. NOOK Tablet 7 A new Nook:  Now mine is working perfectly fine but who doesn’t want a new toy every now and again.  I’ll wait until mine stops working but if someone was to give me one as a gift I wouldn’t refuse.
  2.  Bookish Pillow: This looks like a cute pillow that would be nice for reading in bed or on the couch.
  3. Image result for Librarian Bookish shoes Bookish Shoes: This is something I’ve wanted for a while. A pair of really cool bookish shoes that I could wear to work.
  4. Book Reader Socks Bookish Socks:  And to go with those bookish shoes a pair of fun bookish socks. Or perhaps the socks can go with another pair of shoes…
  5. This hilarious bookish t-shirt sums up the life of a reader pretty well. Bookish T-Shirt:  This shirt is so true!  I would love this shirt but there are plenty of other great shirts out there.
  6. Readers gonna read mug Bookish mug:  I do have a bookish mug but I do like this one and wouldn’t mind owning it too.
  7. $12.99, H&M. Bookends:  I’ve found myself picking up fun bookends that I come across while thrifting. I like this one but I should probably just stencil the quote on my bookcase instead…
  8. 30 Literary Enamel Pins for Book Lovers | Bookish https://www.bookish.com/articles/bookish-enamel-pins/ Bookish pin:  I have a small collection of book pins and buttons but this one is cute.
  9.  Bookish Tote:  Who doesn’t love a cool bookish tote to haul all those new titles home in.
  10.  Bookish Tattoo:  This is something I truly covet but will probably never get.  I love the idea of getting either a bookish or Star Trek Tattoo but I have a metal allergy and am afraid I will not handle the ink very well.  So I will simply be an admirer.

There you have it, a list of my bookish desires.  What bookish items do you want?

Monday Morning Check-In: Over It.

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Happy Monday everyone!  Didn’t get my post written this morning because I needed to clean my chicken coop and do some other chores.  So let’s talk about the elephant in the blog, shall we?  I seem to be slowing down in my reading and posts.  I’m not sure what is up and why I’m not into reading currently but I don’t seem to be doing as much of it.  I wonder if the pressure to create content killed my interest or if it was something else but I simply have not been putting in the time and effort needed to make this book review blog a success.  And you know what? That’s alright.  This is not a job. No one is paying me.  I am only accountable to myself and my followers.  So I think this is what I’m going to do.  I’m going to take the pressure off even further.  I’m going to take a break from Net Galley, which is my current source of stress related to the blog.  It helps that I haven’t found anything I’m super excited about in a while over there so when I finish up my three books up for review  I’m going to take an extended break from Net Galley.  Sure it is a lot of fun to read a book before others get to but it isn’t like I can’t read the book later.  I do work at a library so it isn’t even like I would have to buy all the books I want to read I can simply borrow them from my library or another.  I just find myself over Net Galley.  I simply want to read a book because I’m interested in it and not because I owe a publisher a review by release day.  2019 is going to be the year I try to rekindle my love of reading by reading whatever the hell I like and not worry if it is current or relevant.  I might spend a month reading nothing but Star Trek novels or pick up a really old series I’ve never tried.  Explore genres or take a month and read nothing at all.  I’m not going to sign up for Goodreads pledge either, well I might say I’ll read one book and just use it to record how many I do finish next year.  I do want the pretty little badge for my profile after all.  I do plan to continue posting for Top Ten Tuesday because I enjoy the challenge and I will probably still post a weekly update but the monthly recaps will disappear if I haven’t finished any books that month.  I hope you all don’t mind but I simply don’t want the pressure in committing to more.  I just feel like the blog has gotten a little stale and might think of some other types of posts I can deliver to you all.  I have been toying with doing a Wish bookish haul like the videos on YouTube.  If that sounds like something you’d enjoy leave a comment and let me know.  Or leave a link to something you saw on Wish that you would like to see reviewed.  Have a great week everyone!  Happy reading.

Ajax Penumbra 1969 by Robin Sloan

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Book Review

 


Ajax Penumbra 1969 (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #0.5)Book Genre: Fantasy, Short Story

Book Series: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore # 0.5

Released: 9/1/2013 by Picador

Pages: 65 Price: $2.99 E-Book

Links:  Goodreads, Author’s Site

Source: I borrowed the audiobook from my library. 

 

 

Book Synopsis:

August 1969 San Francisco. Ajax Penumbra seeks a book–the single surviving copy of the Techne Tycheon, a mysterious volume that has brought and lost great fortune for anyone who has owned it. Late one night, after another day of dispiriting dead ends, he stumbles across a 24-hour bookstore, and the possibilities before him expand exponentially.

My Review:

This is a short prequel story to Mr. Pemumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, a story I listened to a while back on a whim and ended up enjoying.  I have kept an eye out for other books by this author and have his book Sourdough on hold but in the meantime this one became available and I decided to download it.

It isn’t a long story, just under two hours long, but it was quite good.  I remembered enough from the other book that I knew what was going on.  This is one case where I think you will get more from the prequel if you read the other book first.  Otherwise, much of it will simply go over your head.  Having read the other book first, though, I felt like an insider and delighted in knowing more than the main character.  This is the story of how Mr. Pemumbra discovers his bookstore and ends up working there.  There was quite a bit of backstory to his character and it was interesting to get to know him better.

If you enjoyed the other book I would say don’t miss this one.  If you haven’t read the other one then I suggest starting there and coming back.  Not my typical advice but I think it will work better for you.

My Rating: 4 Stars